Jessica Jones:A fresh direction

Jessica Jones is back, bringing her trademark snark and dangerously short-temper to Netflix for a second season of this stand-out superhero show.

After a critically-acclaimed debut that dealt with battling one of the most vile villains in comic-book lore, Jones will investigate the origin of her own mysterious super-powers in the second season. She’s also trying out a few new things, such as anger management.

But Jones isn’t the only one trying something new. Show-runner Melissa Rosenberg came back with a new creative direction. Over the 13 episodes, all of which you can stream right now, you’ll see the work of 13 different directors – all women. This approach might seem like a no-brainer, given the female protagonist, but it’s actually a rare move in the world of TV, much less film or Hollywood in general.

We don’t want to give you any spoilers, so we’ll hold back on the episode names. But here are four of the 13 directors, and a couple of episodes from other excellent shows that they have directed, which you can also stream on Netflix (after Jessica Jones, of course).

Minkie Spiro is a British director and photojournalist who has worked on major Brit shows including Call the Midwife and Downton Abbey. In the past she has spoken about her efforts to ensure diversity in her camera crews. She directs episode 2 of Jessica Jones.

Spiro on Netflix: Spiro has worked on the Breaking Bad spin-off, Better Call Saul (season 3, episode 9) and postwar period drama Call the Midwife (season 2 and 3, episodes 7 and 8 of each).

Canadian Mairzee Almas is no stranger to comic book heroes. Her previous credits include the series based on Superman’s teen years, Smallville. She directs episode 3 of Jessica Jones.

Almas on Netflix: Almas has worked on several episodes of another comic book adaptation, iZombie (season 1, episode 12, plus others in seasons 2 and 3) as well as the modern twist on fairytales, Once Upon a Time (season 6, episode 9).

Film and television director Deborah Chow, also Canadian, won awards and praise for her first feature film, an indie drama starring Zach Braff called The High Cost of Living. She has also worked on hit sci-fi show Mr Robot. She directs episode 4 of Jessica Jones.

Chow on Netflix: Jessica Jones is not Chow’s first foray with Marvel. She worked on Iron Fist (season 1, episode 11) about a martial arts expert with a mystical power. She has also worked on mega-hit bloodsucker show, The Vampire Diaries (season 3, episode 4).

New Yorker Liz Friedlander made her name working on major music videos in the '90s, working with artists such as Alanis Morisette and U2. Her TV work has taken a teen focus with credits including rich-kid soaps, 90210 and Gossip Girl. She directs episode 12 of Jessica Jones.

Friedlander on Netflix: Friedlander worked on Gossip Girl (season 4, episode 19) and, like Chow, takes directing credits for The Vampire Diaries (season 1, episodes 12 and 20; season 2, episode 8).

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